The IRS released the Fiscal Year 2009 Enforcement Results, for the years 2000 – 20009.  The IRS statistics show:

  • Enforcement revenue up 50% from 2000
  • Individual audit rate up 100% from 2000
  • A millionaire is six times more likely to be audited than someone earning less than $200,000
  • Business audit rate down 15% from 2000
  • The only businesses with a higher audit rate in 2009 than 2000 are small businesses (< $10m assets).  The audit rate of larger businesses (including those with over $250m of assets) is lower in 2009 than in 2000

 Here’s the IRS’ summary table

 

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Enforcement $ $33.8b $33.8b $34.1b $37.6b $43.1b $47.3b $48.7b $59.2b $56.4b $48.9b
Audit Rate                    
  Individuals 0.49% 0.58% 0.57% 0.65% 0.77% 0.93% 0.97% 1.03% 1.01% 1.03%
    < $200k             0.93% 0.98% 0.95% 0.96%
    > $200k             2.57% 2.68% 2.94% 2.89%
    > $1m         5.03% 6.10% 5.25% 6.84% 5.57% 6.42%
  Businesses 0.69% 0.55% 0.53% 0.49% 0.36% 0.57% 0.60% 0.66% 0.63% 0.58%
    < $10m 0.77% 0.60% 0.63% 0.58% 0.32% 0.79% 0.80% 0.92% 0.95% 0.85%
    $10m-$50m 11.7% 9.7% 7.8% 6.2% 9.4% 12.3% 14.2% 15.0% 11.7% 10.1%
    $50m-$100m 14.7% 12.3% 10.7% 9.8% 12.9% 16.4% 13.8% 11.4% 11.7% 14.3%
    $100m-$250m 17.4% 17.6% 16.0% 12.9% 16.9% 17.5% 14.0% 12.1% 12.8% 13.6%
    >$250m 31.4% 32.1% 34.4% 29.8% 39.8% 44.1% 35.2% 27.2% 27.4% 25.7%
  Exempt Orgs 0.89% 0.61% 0.67% 0.71% 0.67% 0.58% 0.83% 0.87% 0.88% 1.24%

 See ABC NewsMake Less Than $200K? You Probably Weren’t Audited.